FOR decades, one man led a town's tributes to the Armed Forces.

As parade marshal in Spennymoor, County Durham, for more than 20 years, the late Arnold Sanderson officiated at many Remembrance and annual drumhead services.

But the roles were reversed yesterday when residents and military representatives stood to attention for his final parade.

Standard bearers from the town's military associations and uniformed services lined both sides of the path leading to St Paul's Church, in Spennymoor, as friends and family filed into his funeral service.

As a piper played, the flags lowered and Mr Sanderson was carried into the church by eight Gurkhas from the infantry training centre at Catterick.

The Northern Echo:

Daughter Judith Richardson said her father, who died on March 22 aged 87, would have been incredibly proud of the tribute.

She said: "He had a huge respect for the military and a special relationship with the Gurkhas.

"He would have been over the moon with fact Gurkhas are carrying his coffin, he would have been so honoured."

Mr Sanderson was conscripted into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, saw active service in Egypt and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

After the Army, he set up his own building business and with wife Elsie had two daughters, Ann MacLachlan and Mrs Richardson, and three grandchildren.

His first wife passed away in 1983 and he later shared 32 years of marriage with second wife Margaret.

In retirement, he enjoyed made walking sticks and shepherd’s crooks which he sold at Richmond Market Hall where he and Margaret ran a stall.

The Northern Echo:

A chance meeting there with a Gurkha officer led to an incredible bond with the Gurkhas and he went on to raise more than £50,000 for the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Captain Ram Malla, chairman of the British Gurkha Nepalese Community (BGNC) in Catterick and Darlington, said: "Words cannot express how much Arnold Sanderson did for the Gurkha Welfare Trust and Gurkhas, it was very important to do this."

Close friend Colour Sergeant Jai Bahadua Dura Gurung said: "With his help we set up schools which were running within two years. The honour is ours."